Share this story:

I would be remiss if I didn’t start this column out by thanking the Metropolitan Business Association for bestowing upon me the honor of Business Man of the Year. I have a great passion for what we do at Watermark and a great deal of love for the staff and the community we serve. It is an incredible feeling to be recognized for doing something you love to do.

I am a huge fan of events akin to the MBA’s Pride Gala and Watermark’s WAVE Awards, because they draw attention to those in the community that have a great deal of passion. Having passion for your community and channeling that passion into volunteer work or the advancement of others is what I like to call using your powers for good.

Share this story:

Sarasota – Jonathan Tasini, author of The Essential Bernie Sanders and his Vision for America, spoke at Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center on Jan. 9. The event was one of five Florida stops with an engagement in Melbourne that evening, and three in Miami the following day. A predominantly caucasian audience of approximately 100 attended the Fogartyville event; attendees ranged from teens to senior citizens but skewed elderly, including one gentleman who turned 103 that week.

Endorsed by Sanders, Tasini’s book breaks down the presidential candidate’s policies in an easy to read format to layout talking points for supporters or introduce voters to Sanders. Tasini meticulously patchworked excerpts from Sander’s speeches and press release statements to create the slim, accessible book. He wrote the book in the 20 days following Sanders’ Presidential bid announcement in May 2015.

Share this story:

It appears to be a faded memory now, but for a hot minute Bradenton hair and makeup artist Joey Killmeyer was going viral.

Killmeyer was visited by Ethan, an eight-year-old with dreams of being a makeup artist, and his mother. Ethan wanted to learn to do drag makeup and is a fan of makeup artist and performer Jeffree Starr, according to Killmeyer’s now deleted Facebook page.

Share this story:

There’s a rhythm to exiting Orlando Philharmonic executive director David Schillhammer’s seemingly nervous (but ultimately correct) conversational chorus. For more than a decade, Schillhammer has seen the Phil grow from next-to-nothing to ultimately becoming the most viable of Orlando’s cultural operations. Last year, the Phil made a bold move and transferred its operations to the Plaza Live on Bumby Avenue, eschewing expectations entirely (the Phil was supposed to have a home in the new Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, per publicly available documents explaining the center’s mission). This year, Schillhammer has decided to step down – not because of organizational chaos; just the opposite, really.

“It was time for me to, sorry to use the phrase, ‘Exit stage right,’ and to make room for the next voice,” he says. “And I’ve decided that there’s no shame in this. Though I am sad every minute, and I could cry at the drop of a hat, or with every email I receive from a patron or a volunteer, it doesn’t change my decision or my pride in what we’ve accomplished. And it certainly doesn’t change my unwavering love of the Orlando Philharmonic.”

Share this story:

NEW YORK (AP) – Veteran NBA referee Bill Kennedy has told Yahoo Sports he is gay after Sacramento Kings guard Rajon Rondo directed a gay slur at him during a game.

Kennedy tells Yahoo he is “proud to be an NBA referee and I am proud to be a gay man,” adding that he chose to come out in hopes of sending a message “that you must allow no one to make you feel ashamed of who you are.”

Share this story:

Miami – 383 bicyclists from 24 states and one from Ottawa, Canada pedaled 165 miles from Miami to Key West Nov. 13 and 14 for The SMART Ride, the annual Southern Most AIDS/HIV Ride, raising almost $1 million for those affected by HIV and AIDS. Now in its 12th year, the event has collected over $7.3 million total, donating every cent of that to the cause.

“That gives me goosebumps, just knowing that what we do is unique and that we attract so many different people from so many different places,” says Glen Weinzimer, The SMART Ride’s founder, adding that as of press time, he’s still receiving donations from the 2015 event.

Share this story:

Tampa – The 18-year-old under arrest for the murder of India Clarke, a transgender woman whose body was found July 21 in a Tampa community center playground, is named as a “person of interest” in another Bay area murder.

The body of Tyrone Sean Davis, 46, was found July 26 in Tampa’s Temple Crest Park. While many details have not yet been released, the Tampa Bay Times is reporting that Davis’ death is being investigated as a homicide.

Share this story:

Orlando | Every road must come to an end. After eight fabulous years Funky Monkey on Mills, the first restaurant in Orlando to feature dinner and drag shows, will be closing its doors June 28.

“We’ve decided to focus all our energy at our Pointe Orlando location,” said Eddie Nickell, who owns Funky Monkey with his husband Nicholas Olivieri. “It’s more than bittersweet, it’s sad. We’ve made so many memories here.”

Share this story:

She was surrounded by music growing up, mostly classical and chorale music from a young age. Now she spends most of her days laying down beats, collaborating with other DJs and writing songs for house music that fans all over the world enjoy.

But on Saturday, March 28, Inaya Day will be the headliner at Tampa Pride in Ybor City. Day,who has been involved in music since she was 12, talks about her musical journey, her experience with Pride across the country and what fans can expect in Tampa.

Share this story:

Every time WatermarkOnline.com posts a story about Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi’s defense of the state’s ban on same-sex marriage, readers sprint to their keyboards and anxiously pound out the same brand of sexist insults, over and over.

This is a problem. This is the kind of dangerous problem that can kill progress, and the LGBT community needs to address it immediately.

Resources

Login

About Us

Watermark is a multi-faceted media company using opportunities and innovations to communicate and advance LGBT interests, with a corporate emphasis on professionalism while building strong relationships with our readers, customers and community.

Watermark Media was founded by Tom Dyer in Orlando in 1994, and expanded to Tampa Bay in 1995. Dyer is an attorney, former board member of the Metropolitan Business Association and Tampa International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, and current advisory board member of the Harvey Milk Foundation.

Watermark prints up to 20,000 copies every other Thursday, and distributes them in more than 500 locations throughout Orlando, Tampa Bay, Sarasota and throughout the state. The newspaper donates more than $200,000 annually in free and sponsor advertising to worthy local and national LGBT non-profits.

Watermarkonline.com was launched in 1999. The award-winning newspaper currently maintains offices in Tampa Bay and Orlando and employs a full-time staff of 12, along with several part-time and freelance contributors.

Watermark Publishing Group, founded by publisher Rick Claggett, purchased Watermark in January of 2016. Rick Claggett is a long-time employee of Watermark Media and former board member of both the Metropolitan Business Association and Come Out With Pride.Read More...